Point-of-care ultrasound proves ideal tool for elephant veterinary care

India and south east Asia are home to the endangered Asian elephant, which is rapidly declining in numbers due to poaching and habitat destruction. Green Hill Valley park in Myanmar is home to eight elephants that had previously worked in the logging industry. Veterinary advisor to the Elephant Taxon Advisory Group Willem Schaftenaar and colleagues from the Vietnam Elephant Initiative helped the project through a workshop to teach regional keepers and vets how to use point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to monitor elephants.

Schaftenaar explained: “The aim of the project was to share our knowledge of elephant medicine and techniques, such as POCUS, that are not readily accessible in these countries. We brought along a Fujifilm SonoSite system so that people could get hands-on experience as we explained the various uses of ultrasound in elephant medicine. The portable nature of the SonoSite system makes it possible to run these
interactive workshops. Everyone took turns to try out the machine and they were all very impressed.

“Ultrasound is amazing for general monitoring of elephants and the robust nature of the SonoSite system makes it perfect for using around such large animals. Injuries, the majority of which are caused by poachers, can be assessed at the roadside in the wild and, if the elephant has been shot, tracks from the bullets can be traced.” This was demonstrated on an elephant with a 12-year-old gunshot injury to show how ultrasound can be used to locate the bullet, allowing flushing of the wound to prevent infection.

“The success of the course this time round has led to us being invited to host a similar workshop in India, where there are plans to open a mobile elephant clinic,” Schaftenaar added.

Lead picture: Participants, tutors and staff at Green Hill Valley elephant camp in Myanmar.

Published on the front page of the October 2019 issue of RAD Magazine.